Running For Sheriff

Sheriff Joseph A. Picard died July 13, 1952 in Lewiston, Maine. He had served 38 years as a member of the Lewiston Police Department, part of the time as Captain and, just before his retirement in 1950, as acting Chief. He also was a former deputy sheriff. His first two-year term as high sheriff would have expired next December. Sheriff Picard was among the first Maine police officials to make a thorough study of finger printing. He was meticulous in the matter of record keeping and, long before police files were at all adequate, kept his own data on department matters. Through his encouragement, other officers of the Lewiston department took up the science. For many years he was among the State's leading marksmen with the police automatic pistols and service revolvers. When police officers were active in pistol leagues, his coaching aided in development of several other fine shots. He was insistent the men know their weapons thoroughly and be capable of using them in an emergency.
The sheriff, if he needed an example of the value of familiarity with the police weapon, could always point to a Sunday morning gun duel when he and another patrolman battled a fugitive gunman. The gunman had shot a man to death near the Mohigan on Main Street and had fled toward Pine Street. Picard and the other officer, discovered him hiding behind a large tree. The gunman fired at them. As he did, Picard shot the revolver from his hand and the gunman was arrested.
Joseph Picard joined the Lewiston Police Department in 1911. He became Chief in 1948. His career ended in 1950 due to mandatory retirement. At which time he was honored with a testimonial dinner. In attendance was Governor Frederick G. Payne and several other prominent individuals. Joseph received a telegram from J. Edgar Hoover which read: "I am happy to extend my sincere congratulations upon your retirement following 38 years of public service in the field of law enforcement. Your friends in the FBI join me in wishing you many years of happiness in your retirement. Sincerely, John Edgar Hoover, director, Federal Bureau of Investigations".